Bhubaneswar, Jun 16: The Odisha government has unveiled detailed guidelines under the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026 to promote Odia cuisine restaurants both within the state and across India.

The initiative aims to showcase Odisha’s culinary heritage while supporting entrepreneurs through financial incentives and regulatory support.

Eligibility Criteria

Restaurants seeking incentives must meet eight key conditions:

• Clear land ownership or valid agreements
• Seating capacity for at least 25 guests
• Hygienic, functional kitchens
• Minimum investment of ₹20 lakh (excluding land and building)
• Trained staff in Odia culinary practices
• Clean public conveniences
• Parking facilities as per building bylaws
• Menus displaying Odia cuisine in both Odia and English

Capital and Operational Support

The government has introduced CAPEX and OPEX incentives to encourage investment and reduce operational costs.

CAPEX Support: Reimbursement of up to 30% of eligible expenditure, capped at ₹5 crore, disbursed in three instalments over three years. Eligible expenses include furnishing, interiors, kitchen equipment, civil works, and renovation (for restaurants in Odisha). For those outside Odisha, reimbursement covers furnishing, interiors, and kitchen equipment.

OPEX Support: Designed to ease running costs. Restaurants in Odisha will receive reimbursement of twice their monthly electricity bills in the first year, followed by electricity and State GST reimbursements in the next two years. Outside Odisha, twice the monthly electricity charges will be reimbursed for three years. In both cases, reimbursements are capped at ₹2 lakh per unit per month.

Coverage and Locations

The incentives apply to government‑notified tourist destinations within Odisha and selected locations outside the state. These include five metro cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata (up to five units per city) — and five major tourist destinations such as Agra, Varanasi, Goa, Kochi, and Jaipur (up to two units per destination).

Oversight and Verification

To ensure authenticity, claims will be verified by an Odia Culinary Committee constituted by the Tourism Department.

The initiative is expected to position Odia cuisine as a distinctive culinary brand, offering both locals and tourists a rich taste of Odisha’s traditions.